World Organization for Animal Health says no additional alarm over A/H1N1

PARIS, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The recent identification of A/H1N1 virus in different animal species is "no additional cause for alarm," the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health said Wednesday.

The OIE confirmed it has received recent reports over new identification of A/H1N1 virus in animals other than pigs, saying the function of surveillance and reporting mechanisms was well proved.

However, the organization notified that "no evidence has suggested that animals play any particular role in epidemiology or the spread of the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus among humans."

Though it still proposed prudent certification on animal health for international trade, the organization insisted on not imposing specific measures for international trade in "live pigs and other susceptible animal species and/or their products."

On the same day, the first cat diagnosed with A/H1N1 virus was found in the United States, following cases of A/H1N1 flu in turkeys that emerged in the American continents last month.